Apparatus for treating food substances

Abstract

An apparatus for treating food substances includes a cutting plate defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one cutting surface for supporting food substances and a collecting tray releasably mountable to the cutting plate. The collecting tray defines a reservoir for collecting food substances cut on the cutting surface. The collecting tray may define a spout adapted to facilitate pouring of liquid material of the food substances. The collecting tray may define first and second spout segments. The first and second spouts may be disposed in diametrical opposed relation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for treating food substances, which comprises:
 a cutting plate defining a longitudinal axis and having a first cutting surface and a second cutting surface diametrically opposing the first cutting surface for supporting food substances, the cutting plate defining a peripheral edge extending between the first and second cutting surfaces; and 
 a collecting tray releasably mountable to the peripheral edge of the cutting plate and depending outwardly from the peripheral edge, the collecting tray defining a reservoir for collecting food substances cut on the cutting surface, the collecting tray defining a spout segment adapted to facilitate pouring of liquid material of the food substances. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for treating food substances, which comprises:
 a plate defining a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis, the plate including first and second food support sides in diametrical opposed relation along the vertical axis and a peripheral edge extending between the first and second support sides; 
 a collecting tray defining an inlet opening leading to a reservoir for collecting food substances, the collecting tray being repositionable relative to the plate between a first orientation thereof with the first support side of the plate presented for supporting food substances and a second orientation with the second support side of the plate presented for supporting food substances the collecting tray including a base and an outer wall extending from the base, the base and the outer wall defining the reservoir; and 
 one of the peripheral edge of the plate and the collecting tray includes a grooved segment and the other of the peripheral edge of the plate and the collecting tray includes a mounting lip, the mounting lip being received within the grooved segment in secured relation therewith to releasably secure the collecting tray to the plate in either the first and second orientations of the plate with the base of the collecting tray being vertically below the cutting plate in each of the first and second orientations. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the peripheral edge of the plate has the mounting groove extending through the peripheral edge and between the first and second support surfaces of the plate, the mounting groove being the grooved segment. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the collecting tray includes a mounting tab, the mounting tab receivable within the mounting groove of the plate to releasably secure the collecting tray to the plate, the mounting tab being the mounting lip. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the mounting groove and the mounting lip are correspondingly dimensioned to establish a substantial frictional relation. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the mounting groove and the mounting lip are correspondingly dimensioned to establish one of a snap fit relation or tongue and groove relation. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the mounting groove and the mounting lip are in substantial parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the plate when the collecting tray is secured to the plate in each of the first and second orientations thereof. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for treating food substances, which comprises:
 a cutting plate defining a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and having at least one cutting surface for supporting food substances, the cutting plate defining a peripheral edge; and 
 a collecting tray releasably mounted to the peripheral edge of the cutting plate and depending outwardly from the peripheral edge, the collecting tray defining a reservoir for collecting food substances cut on the cutting surface, the collecting tray defining a spout segment adapted to facilitate pouring of liquid material of the food substances, the collecting tray defines first and second spout segments adjacent respective opposed ends of the collecting tray. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the collecting tray includes a base and an outer wall extending from the base, the base and the outer wall defining the reservoir. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein at least the base of the collecting tray is vertically below the cutting plate when the collecting tray is mounted to the cutting plate. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the first cutting surface includes at least one fluid capturing recess, the at least one fluid capturing recess extending substantially to the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       12. the apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the second cutting surface includes at least one foot segment to orient the first cutting surface at a predetermined angle to facilitate drainage of fluids toward the collecting tray. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for treating food substances, which comprises:
 a cutting plate defining a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and having at least one cutting surface for supporting food substances, the cutting plate defining a peripheral edge, the cutting plate includes a first cutting surface and a second cutting surface diametrically opposing the first cutting surface, the cutting plate includes a mounting groove extending with the peripheral edge and between the first and second cutting surfaces of the cutting plate; and 
 a collecting tray releasably mounted to the peripheral edge of the cutting plate and depending outwardly from the peripheral edge, the collecting tray defining a reservoir for collecting food substances cut on the cutting surface, the collecting tray includes a base and an outer wall extending from the base, the base and the outer wall defining the reservoir, the collecting tray includes a mounting tab receivable within the mounting groove to releasably mount the collecting tray to the cutting plate. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the mounting groove is dimensioned to extend along a major portion of the length of the peripheral edge.